Arsene Wenger has urged Mesut Ozil to sign a new contract with Arsenal, and thinks the German can emulate Dennis Bergkamp
Ozil, who is Arsenal’s club-record signing, having joined from Real Madrid in 2013 in a £42 million deal, has been in fine form this season.
The German netted his first career hat-trick against Ludogorets in October, and has scored 7 goals in 13 appearances in all competitions this season.
Ozil is currently in talks with Arsenal over a contract extension, rumoured to be a four-year deal worth around £200,000 a week.
And Wenger feels that the 28-year old can go on to become a club legend like Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp, who played at the club until he was 38 and has been immortalised outside the Emirates with a bronze statue erected in his honour. Wenger has urged the midfielder to sign a new contract, saying :
‘Can Ozil become an Arsenal legend like Bergkamp? I think so, I think if he commits. Dennis Bergkamp committed for a long period, played until he was 38. I hope we have 10 more years of Ozil. To become a legend at the club you need to stay a long time. If you stay two years you would not be a legend.’
Wenger also feels the German’s goalscoring form is down to Ozil’s new approach to games, and also the fact that Wenger in particular noticed that Ozil was a good finisher. He credits Ozil’s focus on efficiency rather than “playing” with the German’s form in front of goal:
‘The difference today is he focuses more on efficiency. When he arrived here he was more focused on playing. I convinced him that he has it in his locker to score goals. In training I noticed he is a very good finisher. He now realises that. He is calm. You notice all the finishers are killers. That means they keep their nerve in front of goal and he has that.’
The German certainly showcased how calm he was, scoring what will go down as one of the goals of the season earlier this week against Ludogorets Razgrad. Ozil’s continued form will be key to Arsenal’s title challenge, and Wenger will be hoping the German is at his elegant best come Sunday, when Arsenal host Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates.
